As Director of Creative Innovation for Intel, will.i.am will participate in Vivid Sydney on a world-first interactive lighting collaboration on the façade of the recently constructed new wing of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) with renowned Sydney artist Justene Williams, facilitated by world-leading Sydney digital arts company Spinifex.

will.i.am first came to prominence as founder and creative force behind The Black Eyed Peas, one of the biggest, most successful hip-hop acts in the world, boasting 31 million album sales worldwide.

Mr Stoner said the participation of world-renowned creative talent will.i.am was evidence that Vivid Sydney, an event developed by the NSW Government through Destination NSW which will run from 25 May-11 June, was coming of age as a global festival and creative industry event.

“The NSW Government welcomes will.i.am as part of an exciting line-up of global artists and thought leaders taking part in Vivid Sydney,” Mr Stoner said.

“Vivid Sydney is a forum for the creative industries to collaborate, foster business connections and showcase new ideas, and will.i.am’s participation is a mark of the festival’s standing amongst creative industry leaders worldwide,” Mr Stoner said.

In what is believed to be a world first, the lighting collaboration will allow members of the public to literally ‘play the building’ via a purpose-built interface that interacts with will.i.am’s music and the projections of renowned Sydney artist Justene Williams.

Vivid Sydney Creative Adviser Ignatius Jones said: “This is another first for Vivid Sydney: a trans-Pacific collaboration between an amazing Sydney artist, leading Sydney digital creative, and one of the world’s most influential musicians. It puts a wonderful new toy into the hands of the public: for the first time, you can literally create a song and a work of art simultaneously.”

As participants wave their hands in the air they can rearrange will.i.am’s loops and samples, controlling the tone and arpeggiation. Justene Williams’ created objects also ‘shape’ the music; the music in turn shapes the art, creating a completely unique and ever-evolving interactive work.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said: “Vivid Sydney is continuing to capture the attention of the global creative industry generating visitation from within our key tourism markets, and reinforcing Sydney’s position as Australia’s true global city and creative hub of the Asia Pacific.

“It is now the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere, and was recently ranked by the UK’s influential Guardian newspaper as one of the ‘Top 10 Ideas Festivals in the World’,” Ms Chipchase said.

Kate Burleigh, General Manager, Intel Australia, said: “Intel is proud to be a Vivid Sydney partner and contribute to the festival by bringing world-leading artist will.i.am to Sydney. As a musician, producer, and creator, will.i.am demonstrates what amazing, world-first innovations can be created with technology,” Ms Burleigh said.

Liz Ann McGregor, Director of the Museum of Contemporary said: “The MCA is thrilled to have played a role in bringing together of one of today’s most exciting music stars with an innovative Australian contemporary artist—the project can only further promote Sydney’s reputation as an exciting creative city.”

Further details about will.i.am’sparticipation in Vivid Sydney will be announced in the near future.

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